Dates to Maturity for Oriental Lilies How long it will take for your spring planted oriental lily bulbs to bloom! Once you get the knack of planting and growing these garden beauties, the fun begins. Choosing color blends and sizes, staggering other planting in the garden for continuous display from early through late summer or showcasing a particular type of hybrid are just a few ways to turn up the volume in your growing spot.

Oriental lilies and the hybrid Orientpet (Orientalxtrumpet) have fairly common culture specifics. All like full sun but can bloom in light shade. All require well drained soil; even rocky soil has been recommended. The bloom maturity cycle is in summer, some early but most mid to late season. Depending on planting time new bulbs will bloom in 60-120 days . Many hybrids bloom well the first year after planting but will reach full potential height in the second or third year and all subsequent summers. Many kinds of Oriental Lily open new buds for several weeks; some blooming twice or three times. The variances most noticeable among individual plants are height and size of the bloom itself as well as the direction the flower faces; downward like the trumpet lily or outward.

Popular Oriental Lilies' Maturity Dates

1) Black Beauty
First Orientpet created, 3-4 inch claret color faint white outline on petals, With lime green throat. Colonizing 4 to 7 foot plant. 2003 bulb of the year award around 90 days to bloom July - August.

2 American Way
1996 Introduction, blooms have upright habit with overlapping petals. Looks like golden Casa Blanca Oriental Lilly. 4 ft. high plant 18 inches wide. It blooms around 80 days after planting, early-mid summer.

3 Debutante
Stocky part shade-full sun pretty, yellow and white lightly reversed petals on 8-10 in. blooms Developed for heat, drought tolerance. No need to stake 4-5ft plants with 60-80 days to maturity.

4 Silk Road
Wayside Gardens votes it most fragrant Oriental Lily ever. Unusual splotched red pink rounds in center feather to white. Offers secondary bloom of 8-10in. flowers on 4-6ft high stems. Several weeks of bloom in mid to late summer on 2-3 ft. wide plants.

5 My Precious
Red and white heavy downward flowers. Recommended for all climate zones. Sturdy 4-5 ft. plant blooms July-August. Looks like 4th of July decoration.

6 Robina
A true lavender that is more towards the blue than red. Unusual because of this color which is difficult to achieve in hybrids. 4 ft. plants bloom in July.

7 White Henryi
1945 introduction in Oriental Lilies. This is the grandfather of many later hybrids. Old House Gardens authenticates it as a heritage bulb. Tawny cream, gold center with 6 curled back petals. Grows 4-5 ft and blooms mid-summer. Lightly fragrant.

8 Muscadet
Smaller, no-staking 3ft plant bears huge blooms in late summer. Plant in full sun for a late summer bright white flushed with pink bloom.

9 Starfighter
Stake free hearty pink-red upturned blooms. Over 3ft high growth matures late August, early September.

10 Red Dutch
Yellow with red center will remind you of tulip colors. Developed especialy for flower trade. Medium sized blooms on 3-ft plant in late summer.

Just these 10 featured Oriental Lilies allow you to compare the different vibrant colors that might be the plant you are looking for. Remember to plant in 5-6 inches of well draining soil and to water consistently throughout the growing cycle. By choosing your bulbs carefully, you can extend your growing season significantly so that your garden will be a bower of Oriental lilies for months! If your nursery does not carry some of the more rare Oriental Lilies, check out the dozens of choices at our recommended suppliers.